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Rhode Island

    Region
    Rhode Island
    Required to Report
    Optional
    What to Report
    Optional
    State Office
    Department of Environmental Management
    WPS Enforcement
    Worker Protection Standard Enforcement Agency
    Coverage for Farmworkers
    Required (with limitations)
    Limitations
    Employer must provide workers' compensation if employer employs 25 or more farm laborers for 13 consecutive weeks. Alternatively, employer who meets the above requirements may provide health and disability insurance if the premium for said insurance is higher than worker's comp.
    Statute
    R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-29-7.2 (2011)
    Coverage for Undocumented Workers
    Yes
    Case Law
    Villa v. Eastern Wire Prods. Co., 554 A.2d 644, 646-47 (R.I. 1989) (finding that trial commissioner's distrust of undocumented worker as a result of his use of false documentation was appropriate reason to deny workers' compensation benefits). *Note: this case was decided before the case law on this issue had developed much sophistication. There are now many new arguments that employer's counsel have available (given Hoffman Plastics, Reinforced Earth, etc.). So it is possible that a case on this issue would come out differently in Rhode Island now.
    Benefits Available for Undocumented Workers
    There is no case law answering this question.